Associate Engineer - Process Controls

Energy Transfer LP; Marcus Hook (Delaware County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Energy Transfer LP in the United States seeks an Associate Process Controls Engineer to maintain and enhance the DCS at a Natural Gas Liquids terminaling facility. You will diagnose problems, propose multiple solutions, and help implement control changes with cross‑functional teams.

You\'ll provide day‑to‑day support for site DCS/PC networks, develop documentation, test in labs, and collaborate with OT, IT and safety programs to ensure reliable operations and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering; 0–3 years related experience in process controls.
• Knowledge of control network protocols including EtherNet/IP and Modbus.
• Familiarity with basic and advanced process DCS/HMI systems and data historians.
• Experience with PLC programming and hardware configuration.
• Understanding of network topologies, security concepts, and software versioning.
• Awareness of process manufacturing instrumentation and safety practices.
• Willingness to travel to southern New Jersey and Texas facilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide troubleshooting, optimization, design, configuration, and programming for process control systems.
• Maintain DCS integrity; monitor software/hardware performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with engineers and operations to implement control solutions.
• Create and test control logic from specifications; validate in lab or simulated environments.
• Develop DCS documentation: narratives, specifications, P&IDs, drawings.
• Coordinate with OT/IT to ensure plant network reliability and cybersecurity compliance.
• Assist spare parts definition and lifecycle management for control systems.
• Support training simulators and patch validation; coordinate third-party activities.
• Participate in Management of Change, PHA, and pre-planning for process safety.

Skills

EtherNet/IP

Modbus

PLC programming

HMI graphics

Data historians

Networking concepts

Process instrumentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Rockwell PlantPAx

Allen-Bradley PLC

HMI software

SCADA interface

Capstone dataPARC

Toptech terminaling

Job description

Energy Transfer, recognized by Forbes as one of America's best large employers, is dedicated to responsibly and safely delivering America's energy. We are driven to inspire our employees to create superior value for our customers, our investors, a sustainable future and giving back to the community where we have long-standing commitments to causes including MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House and many more.

We value all of our employees who make our growth and success possible. We are proud to offer industry leading compensation, comprehensive benefits, 401(k) match with additional profit sharing, PTO and abundant career opportunities.

Come join our award winning 12,000 strong organization as we fuel the world and each other!

Summary

This position assists in the maintenance and health of the process control systems at a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) processing & terminaling facility. Good analytical skills are required to diagnose problems, and the candidate must be able to identify multiple alternatives and/or recommendations for a given problem, as well as facilitate the implementation of solutions. The Associate Process Controls Engineer will provide day‑to‑day support of the site distributed control systems (DCS) and process control networks.

Description

• Provide technical assistance with troubleshooting, optimization, design, configuration, and programming of process control systems essential to terminal and pipeline operations.
• Ensure the integrity of the DCS. Monitor and troubleshoot the process control system programming, software, and hardware, including performance monitoring. Work with engineering, operations & maintenance daily to ensure operational reliability of the site.
• Work with Process Control Engineers and project management teams to implement revised and/or new basic process control & advanced control solutions. Create logic programming from control narratives/functional specifications. Test programming and equipment in a lab or simulated environment.
• Develop and maintain various DCS-related documentation such as control narratives, functional specifications, cause and effects, procedures, P&IDs, and electrical drawings.
• Keep current on all equipment modifications, software revisions, and future direction of the process control industry. Manage process control system software versioning.
• Work with Operational Technology (OT) staff to ensure reliability of the plant process control network (hardware & software). Ensure that corporate IT and cybersecurity policies and guidelines are followed.
• Assist in the definition of spare parts and preventive maintenance requirements for DCS and related components. Assist in the lifecycle management (patching, revisions) of software and firmware.
• Manage process control training simulators.
• Support control system staging environment and patch validation.
• Work with third‑party companies and product representatives as required to assist in design, factory acceptance testing, simulator development, and commissioning & startup activities.
• Ensure Process Safety and Risk Management objectives are practiced daily through participation in Management of Change, Process Hazards Analysis and pre‑planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline and 0-3 years of relevant job‑related familiarity and/or experience in process controls.
• Awareness, familiarity, and/or knowledge of control network protocols including EtherNet/IP and Modbus.
• Awareness, familiarity, and/or knowledge of basic process & advanced process distributed control systems, HMI graphics and data historians.
• Awareness, familiarity, and/or knowledge and experience with PLC programming and hardware configuration.
• Awareness, familiarity and/or knowledge of local and wide area networking concepts including network topologies, switch configuration and network security concepts. Ability to manage software revisions, site licensing, and support agreements.
• Awareness and/or knowledge of process manufacturing field instrumentation & technology.
• Self‑motivated individual with a high level of initiative.
• Position requires the ability to balance multiple projects/tasks simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and shift established priorities in response to changing business needs.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, sound organizational skills.
• Proactively initiates, develops, and maintains effective working relationships. Ability to function effectively in a team environment.
• Competent with personal computer applications (Microsoft Office, etc.).
• Knowledge of industry safety practices.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays and respond to callouts on a non‑routine basis.
• Physical requirements - Must be able to lift 40 lbs, climb ladders and stairs. Walking, bending, stooping is required. Must be able to wear personal protective equipment including the use of a respirator. Must be able to respond to visual and audible signals.
• Willingness to travel to facility locations in southern New Jersey and Texas.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in refinery, manufacturing and/or pipeline environment.
• Experience with Rockwell PlantPAx, Allen‑Bradley PLC, HMI interface software & hardware, SCADA interface, Capstone dataPARC, Toptech terminaling applications.
• Knowledge or awareness of relevant industry best practices, codes, and regulations (ex. API, DOT, ISA, PHMSA, PSM, NFPA, NEC).

Working Conditions

• Normal office working conditions and field work.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time due to prolonged periods of sitting or standing.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required.
• Visits to industrial/manufacturing settings, which may include exposure to various materials and chemicals, as well as extreme temperature conditions and loud machinery, and require appropriate personal protective equipment will occur.